How to Make Chef John's Baklava - A Step-by-Step Guide

Chef John's Baklava is a timeless and beloved dessert that has been perfected through generations. This indulgent treat features layers of flaky pastry, aromatic nuts, and a sweet honey syrup, creating a symphony of flavors and textures that is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Originating from the Middle East, baklava has become a popular dessert in various cultures around the world, each adding their own unique twist to the classic recipe. Chef John's version stays true to the authen...

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Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups walnut halves
  • 1 cup shelled pistachios
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 12 sheets phyllo dough, thawed if frozen
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • ¾ cup water
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 3 whole cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ teaspoons orange flower water

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hr
  • Additional Time: 1 hr 5 mins
  • Total Time: 2 hrs 25 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 1 (9-inch) round

  • Place walnuts, pistachios, and cinnamon in bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off until mixture is chopped but not too fine.
  • Brush bottom of 9-inch round baking pan with melted butter. Place one round of phyllo dough in the pan; add a second round of dough. Drip about 1 tablespoon of melted butter over the top. Add 2 more sheets and drizzle with butter. Add 2 more sheets and drip with butter creating 6 layers for the bottom. (While you work keep the phyllo sheets covered with a damp, nearly dry, cotton towel to keep dough from drying out.)
  • Sprinkle with 1/3 of the nut mixture. Top with a sheet of phyllo and drip with melted butter; repeat with 1 more sheet of filo. Add another 1/3 of the nut mixture.
  • Place another sheet of phyllo on the nuts; drip with butter. Top with another sheet and drip with butter. Add the remaining nut mixture.
  • Top with 2 sheets of phyllo; drip with butter. Add 2 more sheets; drip with butter. Top with the last 2 sheets and drizzle generously with the remaining butter. Cover pan with plastic and refrigerate until completely chilled, about 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Cut baklava into about 12 diamond-shaped pieces approximately the same size.
  • Bake in preheated oven until browned and crisp, about an hour.
  • Place sugar, honey, and cloves in a saucepan. Pour in water. Place pan over medium-high heat and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil; remove from heat. Whisk in vanilla and orange blossom water.
  • After baklava has rested 5 minutes, ladle syrup over the top. Cool down to room temperature before serving.
  • Nutrition

    466 cal.

    • Total Fat: 30g
    • Saturated Fat: 7g
    • Cholesterol: 20mg
    • Sodium: 138mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 47g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 32g
    • Protein: 8g
    • Vitamin C: 1mg
    • Calcium: 46mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 238mg